MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- Lewis Hamilton just edged Sebastian Vettel to the fastest time in first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix, while title rival Nico Rosberg finished the session 0.759s off the pace in seventh.
Hamilton set his fastest time on the medium compound midway through the session amid a series of mid-length runs on the white-striped tyres. Rosberg also set his best time on the medium compound, but it appeared as though neither Mercedes was focusing on quick times. They both racked up over 30 laps during the 90 minute session, including a seven lap run on the softs early on followed by a series mid-length runs on the mediums.
The Ferraris in second and third both set their times on the soft tyres towards the end of the session and were split by just 0.079s, which was identical to the gap Vettel had to Hamilton's best time on the mediums. Local hero Sergio Perez used the super-soft tyres exclusively during the session and set the fourth fastest time ahead of Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who was on a similar run plan.
Valtteri Bottas was just 0.038s off Hulkenberg despite using the slower soft compound tyre as Force India and Williams prepare to continue their battle over fourth place in the championship this weekend. Daniel Ricciardo was the highest-placed Red Bull in eighth after using the soft compound tyre for his fastest lap, while teammate Max Verstappen was limited him to just 10 laps due to a brake fire midway through the session and finished outside the top ten.
Felipe Massa was ninth fastest, 0.389s off teammate Bottas using the same compound, but ahead of Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat in tenth place. Romain Grosjean was eleventh for Haas with a time on the soft tyres, while Carlos Sainz was 12th for Toro Rosso using the mediums. Marcus Ericsson used the super-soft tyres to drag his Sauber up to 13th ahead of Verstappen on the softs, Esteban Gutierrez on the softs and Fernando Alonso on the mediums.
Felipe Nasr had a scare halfway through the session when his front wing broke on the exit kerb of Turn 11. The right side of the wing smashed into pieces as it loaded up on the following straight and the debris went under his car. The resulting mess on track brought out a brief red flag period to allow the marshals to sweep the track.
Jenson Button was 18th fastest using the soft tyres, ahead of Kevin Magnussen on the mediums, Esteban Ocon on the softs and Jolyon Palmer and Pascal Wehrlein on the mediums.
Perez, Nasr, Wehrlein, Massa and Magnuessen all completed at least one lap with the halo device attached as the FIA continued its track testing of the safety device.